Growing herbs is rewarding and popular among gardeners. They are grown mainly for their fragrance or their culinary value.
Many herbs are regarded as practical medicinal remedies and many are being cultivated for medicinal or culinary uses in different parts of the world. This has been so for thousands of years and today research into medicinal herbs is on the increase. Before the days of refrigeration and the wide availability of food in so many forms, herbs were often an essential part in the preservation and flavouring of foods.
Today the major use here in New Zealand is flavouring and garnishing food.
Herbs are ideal for growing in pots, either as a mixed group or as single specimens. Always plant mint in its own pot because it is so vigorous it will outgrow all the others. Cold-sensitive herbs, such as basil and coriander, if grown in pots can be brought inside when the weather turns.
For best results, herbs should be harvested regularly, given a liquid feed such as Ican Fast Food every fortnight during the growing season and put down bait for slugs and snails.
Leafy herbs need regular watering. Coriander, in particular, is prone to going to seed quickly if it dries out. Being shallow-rooted, it does this easily, unfortunately. A useful tip is to grow coriander in the shade during the warmer months as this reduces the rate at which it goes to seed. This approach can also be applied to other herbs you may have the same issues with.
There is much interest in what sprays and chemicals have been in contact with the food we eat. This has become a catalyst for some people to grow their own vegetables. However, growing vegetables at home with little use of sprays for pest control can mean our crops are less than satisfactory. Alternative control, such as the use of bug netting to cover crops and combined with companion planting, is necessary.
Companion planting is the planting of certain plants together that can result in far more successful crops. This is an area we can explore and try some different planting arrangements that will improve home vegetable production. Here are notes on some herb varieties, outlining their uses as beneficial companions in the garden.
Basil: Repels white fly and makes a good companion to tomatoes, both in the garden and in the kitchen. It is said to plant three basil plants to every tomato plant for it to be effective. Basil also helps to repel flies and mosquitoes, so a pot or basket is handy in the kitchen and outdoors near the barbecue. Basil dislikes being planted near rue. Basil attracts bees for general garden fertility.
Chives: Carrots grow larger and healthier when planted near chives. Chives help delay parsley going to seed. If grown underneath apple trees, chives help to prevent apple scab. They are also said to help control aphids and black spot on roses. Cooled chive tea, made from the chopped herb with boiling water, helps combat downy and powdery mildew.
Coriander: Repels aphids. Don’t grow it near fennel as it hinders fennel’s seed formation.
Fennel: Repels fleas, so grow it around the dog kennel. Don’t grow it in the vegetable garden as it is disliked by tomatoes, beans and caraway.
Hyssop: Is good for cabbages and other brassicas as well as grapes. It helps deter white butterfly. A good insect repellant if planted in the vegetable or flower garden. Keep away from radishes.
Lemon balm: Improves the growth and flavour of tomatoes and attracts bees which aid pollination.
Mint: Repels cabbage butterfly so grow near your brassicas. It also repels fleas, ants and mice. Keep mint and parsley away from one another.
Oregano: Should be planted near broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower to repel the cabbage butterfly and improve the flavour of these veggies. It also seems to benefit grapes.
Parsley: Aids the growth of roses, tomatoes, asparagus, beans and carrots. It is great grown near chives but should be kept away from mint.
For more gardening information, visit www.springvalegardencentre.co.nz.
